Download the 2009 CR Review PDF 6.73MB - Tesco PLC
Download the 2009 CR Review PDF 6.73MB - Tesco PLC
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“noW, MoRE than EvER,<br />
is thE tiME to shoW<br />
LEadERshiP, suPPoRtinG<br />
ouR custoMERs and<br />
ouR staff as thEY facE<br />
chaLLEnGinG EconoMic<br />
ciRcuMstancEs, and<br />
tacKLinG thE issuEs that<br />
MattER to coMMunitiEs<br />
and sociEtY.”<br />
Go online! To see our full ‘Every Little Helps’ strategy<br />
visit www.tesco.com/about-us/strategy<br />
used each week compared to August<br />
2006. In June, <strong>Tesco</strong> Malaysia became<br />
<strong>the</strong> first country outside <strong>the</strong> UK to launch<br />
green Clubcard points to help customers<br />
use fewer carrier bags, issuing over 14,000<br />
points in <strong>the</strong> first week of <strong>the</strong> reward<br />
scheme. We also now reward customers<br />
in South Korea for reusing <strong>the</strong>ir bags and<br />
for cycling to our stores.<br />
Over <strong>the</strong> past year we became <strong>the</strong><br />
first major retailer in <strong>the</strong> world to carbon<br />
label products. We have now labelled<br />
100 products in <strong>the</strong> UK and Ireland,<br />
and have many more in <strong>the</strong> pipeline.<br />
South Korea is also starting carbon<br />
labelling this year.<br />
The Sustainable Consumption Institute<br />
(SCI) which we established with a<br />
£25 million commitment to <strong>the</strong> University<br />
of Manchester is beginning to bear fruit,<br />
tackling some of <strong>the</strong> many questions<br />
about how to make a consumer society<br />
sustainable. In addition to making a<br />
number of senior academic appointments,<br />
<strong>the</strong> SCI last year welcomed its first tranche<br />
of post-doctoral students from around <strong>the</strong><br />
world – sustainability leaders of <strong>the</strong> future.<br />
The SCI is committed to publishing its<br />
research findings on an open access basis.<br />
We are acutely aware that recessions<br />
create hardship for many families and<br />
communities. Our customers do not just<br />
spend less, <strong>the</strong>y worry more. People can<br />
feel more isolated or vulnerable in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
communities, and can be concerned<br />
that civic values and neighbourliness<br />
are less prevalent than <strong>the</strong>y used to be.<br />
Our success is built on our ability to listen<br />
to our customers, and to anticipate and<br />
respond to changes in society. We are<br />
listening carefully to our staff and our<br />
customers in this recession, and are<br />
making sure we support <strong>the</strong> causes<br />
that matter to <strong>the</strong>m. Our Community<br />
Champions are our strongest expression<br />
yet of our investment in communities.<br />
We now have Community Champions<br />
in 65 stores and five distribution centres<br />
in <strong>the</strong> UK, each working with local<br />
schools, charities and services, as well as<br />
in our stores in China, <strong>the</strong> Czech Republic,<br />
Malaysia, Slovakia and South Korea.<br />
I am proud that in a year where many<br />
businesses have dramatically reduced<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir community investment, <strong>Tesco</strong> has<br />
donated over £57 million to local causes<br />
and communities.<br />
I believe this investment in communities<br />
is what our staff and customers expect –<br />
it reflects <strong>the</strong>ir instincts and <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
behaviours. Indeed, in <strong>the</strong>se very difficult<br />
economic times, <strong>the</strong>y have <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
shown unparalleled energy and<br />
generosity, breaking all records to raise<br />
over £6 million for our UK Charity of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Year, Marie Curie Cancer Care.<br />
In a year where many people have been<br />
deeply worried about losing <strong>the</strong>ir jobs,<br />
we have created new jobs and invested<br />
in our people. Through our regeneration<br />
partnerships, we are continuing to bring<br />
many long-term unemployed people<br />
back into work, giving hope not just<br />
to individuals but to <strong>the</strong> communities<br />
in which <strong>the</strong>y live and work.<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
The financial and economic crisis has hit<br />
<strong>the</strong> developing world hard. For developing<br />
countries, international trade is more<br />
vital than ever. This last year has seen<br />
us make good progress on our ethical<br />
trading standards, growing our expertise<br />
on labour standards and streng<strong>the</strong>ning<br />
our audit and training work. And, through<br />
<strong>the</strong> SCI we are working hard to understand<br />
<strong>the</strong> best contribution we can make<br />
to sustainable development through<br />
our relationship with our international<br />
supply base.<br />
There will be more challenging times<br />
ahead. But good businesses relish<br />
challenging times. We know that our<br />
customers and <strong>the</strong>ir communities depend<br />
on us more than ever. And we know that<br />
if we fulfil <strong>the</strong>ir needs – not just in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
homes but in <strong>the</strong>ir communities and in<br />
broader society – <strong>the</strong>y will repay us with<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir custom and <strong>the</strong>ir loyalty.<br />
This understanding is, I believe, at <strong>the</strong><br />
heart of a sustainable business.<br />
Terry Leahy Chief Executive<br />
3<br />
<strong>Tesco</strong> <strong>PLC</strong> Corporate Responsibility Report <strong>2009</strong>